STIRM WINE CO. 2020 CALCITE WHITE

CIENEGA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

The reason for Riesling…

“We love it. It's not only our belief that this terpene-rich grape is the most dynamic, the most transparent, and the most exciting; many of the world's top sommeliers and wine critics consider it the greatest white wine grape of all.” – Stirm Wine Co.

Stirm Wine Co. is helmed by Ryan Stirm and if it’s not obvious from the above quote, he LOVES Riesling! His arguments for why Riesling works so well in California are hard to refute after tasting his wines. But don’t get it twisted, he makes amazing wines from other varietals too.

This particular wine though, is 88% Riesling with 6% Chardonnay & 6% Scheurebe. Each varietal comes from a different vineyard and they are each harvested by hand over several passes. Once blended, the wine spends one month in neutral barrel. 340 cases were produced.

This very dry, aromatic wine has loads of citrus – lime, lemon, clementine, mandarin, plus tart green apple and pear. It’s got fantastic, flinty minerality and plenty acidity to keep your palate whet.

DANIEL GÓMEZ JIMÉNEZ-LANDI 2019 LAS UVAS DE LA IRA

MÉNTRIDA, SPAIN

Dani Landi was born and raised in Méntrida. He comes from a long line of grape growers and knew from an early age that becoming a winemaker was his calling. After studying oenology in Madrid, Dani became the winemaker at Bodegas Jimenez-Landi, his cousins’ winery. He left in 2012 to create his own eponymous label.

Las Uvas de la Ira (The Grapes of Wrath) is 100% Grenache from several plots in Mentrida in the village of El Real de San Vicente. The vines are 60 years-old, on average. Biodynamically farmed grapes are harvested by hand and aged for one year in foudre after whole-cluster fermentation. Dani also makes three single vineyard expressions of Grenache with the aim to capture the specific terroir of each site.

This wine is ethereal! It’s light and elegant, yet powerful and structured. Tart raspberries are abundant on the nose with flavours of cherries, red gummy bears, freshly baked almond croissants and a delicate hit of pink peppercorn.

WEINGUT WENINGER 2019 PONZICHTER

AUSTRIA/HUNGARY

Ponzichter, meaning bean grower, was the old nickname for the German minority of winegrowers in the Sopron region of Hungary. The Hungarians called them this because they would grow vegetables, mainly beans, between the rows of grapevines. Franz Weninger, the third-generation winemaker at the helm of the winery, says this piqued his interest because it’s very special from a biodynamic point of view. First, even if there was a bad vintage, the farmers still had something to eat. But second, the beans are legumes, and thus they have the ability to assimilate nitrogen from the air to the soil.

This wine is unique in the fact that the Pinot Noir comes from Sopron in Hungary and the Zweigelt comes from Horitschon in Austria; both vineyards are owned by Weninger, and like all their vineyards, they’re biodynamically farmed.

On the nose this screams blue raspberry candies and savory herbs; the palate is brimming with juicy blueberries, cherries, red beets and fresh rosemary.

IL FARNETO 2019 GIANDÒN ROSSO

EMILIA ROMAGNA, ITALY

High in the hills above Modena and Emilia Romagna, along the Secchia River is where you’ll find the home of Marco Bertoni’s “Il Farneto”. This estate started with 6 hectares of vines planted in the early 1990’s and has been farmed biodynamically since 2003. Together with winemaker Tommaso Turci, Il Farneto is producing incredibly compelling wines with a focus on indigenous varietals, plus a bit of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc for good measure. Their bubbles program is absolutely stellar.

And they have two donkeys, Esen and Olaf.

Giandòn Rosso is a blend of 50% Marzemino, 25% Malbo Gentile & 25% Lambrusco Grasparossa, which were harvested by hand at the end of September, vinified separately, then blended in the spring.

Super fruity aromas of blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, black cherries and plums draw you in. Blackcurrant and a hint of dried oregano linger on the spicy finish, with beautifully balanced acidity.

Rich, rustic, and fun!

SYNCHROMESH 2018 CABERNET FRANC

OKANAGAN FALLS, B.C.

In the Spring of 2010 Alan & Amy Dickinson purchased a 5 acre, partially planted property on a higher elevation, south-facing outflow above Okanagan Falls with the vision of creating some of the world’s best Riesling (which they have done, very successfully). Alan's parents, John & Kirsty, joined soon afterwards and together, they were fortunate enough to acquire the neighbouring property in 2017.

Riesling is still the focus here, but Alan produces one of the most intriguing expressions of Cab Franc to come out of B.C. and I’m so excited to share it with you! He purchased this fruit from Oliver’s Cachola Family Vineyard. Sadly though, the vineyard was sold to the behemoth corporation that is Peller Estates, so this is the last vintage Alan had access to the fruit.

On the nose you’ll find ripe black plums, raspberries and a hint of roasted red bell pepper; these notes are abundant on the palate too, where they’re accented with dark chocolate and rounded out with a hint of smoked balsamic.

BODEGA RENACER 2020 PUNTO FINAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

Built in ‘04 in Perdriel, Lujan de Cuyo, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, Bodega Renacer is one of the most sustainable wineries in Argentina. Committed to protecting the environment, they are the first winery in Argentina to be certified carbon neutral. They use ecofriendly bottles that are 15% lighter than average and helping to reduced carbon emissions. They also store the water that flows from the Andes in natural ponds, which provide the vines with only the water needed – free of any added chemicals or foreign substances.

The name Punto Final refers to the moment when the winemaking team considers that it has achieved its ultimate goal: exceptional, easy-to-drink wines that express the typicity of each varietal in an authentic way.

And this unoaked Cab Sauv, with 10% Cabernet Franc, is just that!

Blackberry and cassis jump from the glass and are met with flavours of freshly ground coffee, allspice and black pepper. Tannins are firm, but ripe with surprising elegance.

-Erin Loader